She had a point. Paper plates replaced the good china in 1992 when, after 37 consecutive years of washing the dinner dishes, Aunt Margie went nuts and squirted Uncle Bill with the Palmolive when he tried to slip a dessert plate into the sink without rinsing off the pumpkin residue.

"Face it, we're the Banquet potpie of holiday dinners," she noted, adding softly, "And there are no yams in a potpie."

Here's to the cubed carrot, Glen Burnie.

Blood drive

Giving the gift of life takes on a more special meeting at this time of year as Glen Burnie United Methodist Church sponsors a blood drive from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday in the church hall, D Avenue and Crain Highway.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, donors can write a personal note to accompany a teddy bear the Red Cross will donate to children in area hospitals, explained event organizer Brandon Renninger.

"This is the only time when a person giving blood has any contact with a person who is getting blood," said the 18-year-old Renninger.

While the teddy bear and note given to the child are not from the matched blood donor, says Renninger, the personal messages are memorable just the same.

This is the last blood drive Renninger will organize for Glen Burnie Methodist. A 1997 graduate of Glen Burnie High, he's joined the Navy and will be leaving for boot camp in January.

Since his first drive in July 1996 the church has collected 97 pints. He is hoping this drive will bring in 125 pints.

Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds.

For information call the church office, 410-761-4381.

Blankets for the homeless

Tiffany Walker, a sixth-grader at Corkran Middle School, is asking her fellow students to share the spirit of giving by collecting blankets for distribution to the homeless.

Blankets in good condition will be collected during November and December in a box in front of the school's main office. They will be given to homeless men and women in Glen Burnie and Baltimore through the Happy Helpers For the Homeless program.

Tiffany has been a member of Happy Helpers since she was 6, meeting each Saturday to prepare box lunches for the poor.

Her request to run the blanket program at school was greeted with enthusiasm and support by Corkran Principal Robert Janovski. Using posters and the morning announcements, she has been working to get her message to the students.

For information or to arrange for a donation, call Tiffany at 410-761-0259.

Family classes scheduled

The Family Involvement Center at Oakwood Elementary School has announced the December schedule of classes and programs for families of children attending county public and private schools.